The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-11-19
GLADSTONE AT HOME.
Description of . Visit to the "Grsnd Oh
Mans" Prosperous Estate.

Description Of . Visit to the "Grand Old
Mans" Prosperous Estate.
to-day visited the castle of the Hon
William E. Gladstone, where with his
family he seems TO be enjoying the
solid comforts of home life, and | am
fully confirmed in the impression
which had previously formed Of him.
that he is one of the grandest characters
of the age. and for force Of manly
character / doubt if his equal can be
found in England. All honorary titles
rendered him he rejects, preferring the
plain, simple name of William E. Glad
stone. His castle, the only appropriate
name for his present home. was built
in the year 1852, and is constructed Of
solid granite, iron and masonry, and to
the eye, as one approaches it, is mas
sive and imposing. its angles. minarets
and towers giving it magnificent ap-
pearance. and at Queens Ferry rail-
road station, mile and half distant,
its highest tower is plainly visible
above the tops of the lofty oaks and
elms surrounding it. The extensive
grounds around the castle are, to say the
least, charming and delightful to view,
and the venerable trees so giant-like and
almost defiant in their stateliness, serve
to render the whole scene one of su-
perb grandeur and beauty. just across
a beautiful ravine (and within the
castle grounds)-distant hundred
yards or more from the structure now
occupied by the Gladstone family
stands an old castle erected in the
eleventh century. and on an elevation
of ground SO steep Of ascent as to rem
der the approach to the base extremely
difficult On entering the main tower
one follows up winding staircase
leading some forty feet to small room
in the top-with but one very narrow
window-these stairs are so far pre-.
served as to enable one to make the
ascent without danger, apparently.
The castle wall is in wonderful state
of preservation considering its great
age. In the second story is a narrow
opening, to afford an opportunity te
observe the enemy, il in sight, and tt
let the portcullis fall if by any means
the enemy had gained an entrance
through the gate into the grounds. SC
as to confront the tower entrance
which is wide door or opening. to b
closed instantly by dropping the port
cullis-composed of solid iron. Tit
dungeon down under the castle
is most hideous looking place
and with its subterranean passages, re
| sembling the mouth of an old fash
toned brick oven-together with thu
trap door openings and holes in thu
wall-the narrow passage ways, lead
ing into darkness, the various nook
and corners; also its ele waited position
give one the impression that storminl
that castle in the day of its strength
would at least have been labor lost
The Gladstone estate--connected with
the home, consists of seven Thousand
acres. and brings a net yearly incom
of $4,000. He has also an estate il
Scotland netting him $40. 900 yearly
and receives annual pensions of $40.
900. These items are simply named a
fractional part of his income to sal
isfy his ardent friends that he is in n
immediate danger Of suffering for tn
necessaries of life. As to his family
he has four sons and three daughters
the youngest is thirty-nine years @
age, and unmarried. In closing thi
hastily written letter it is q pleasur
for me to say that in conversing freel
with several of his neighbors, who ar
his tenants, they with one accord pre-
nounce Mr. Gladstone their true FRIEND
Isaac Caftn, in Chicago Inter Ocean